Chapter 10: Return from Darkness

Shihoin Yoruichi and Abarai Renji had just reached the edge of the park when the huge pink petal sphere exploded, releasing a heavy shock wave outward and sending the two diving for cover. A roaring blaze of heat washed over them, singeing their skin and forcing them to press their bodies more deeply into the cool grass. Smaller pulses of heat continued to flash by and light sparked around them as they rolled to their feet.

Yoruichi gasped in dismay at the destruction ahead of them and her eyes widened in distress as she felt Byakuya's reiatsu fading. She flash stepped forward with Renji on her heels. As they reached the center of the park, they slid to a stop and stared unbelievingly at the scene before them. Two of the Elders lay sprawled lifelessly on the scorched ground. Two others leaned over two more who had sustained what looked to be major injuries. At the very core of the destruction, the head Elder leaned over Byakuya's motionless form. He gently turned the unconscious clan leader over and lifted his unresponsive body into his arms.

"How reckless!" he hissed at the unconscious noble, "If you live, you will pay for your foolishness."

He turned to the others.

"Come…we must hurry if he is to be saved. Bring the injured. We'll send someone for the fallen."

"Wait!" Yoruichi called out, "His reiatsu is too far declined. He won't survive the trip back to Soul Society. You must allow us to take him to Inoue Orihime. She is his only hope."

"Do you think me a fool?" snarled the head Elder disdainfully, "You simply want to retrieve him for your own purposes. He goes with us."

"Think about what you are doing…the chance you are taking! Read his reiatsu level. You will see I am right. But don't take too long. Mere moments could decide his fate! Give him to us," Yoruichi demanded, "before he dies in your arms! If you really want him to survive, you must do this!"

The head Elder gazed down into Byakuya's bloodstained face uncertainly as Renji stepped forward. He hesitated a moment longer, then carefully placed Byakuya in his fukutaichou's arms.

"Do not fool yourself into thinking for one moment that this is over!" he warned them, "We will return for him. He will pay for his recklessness and for the lives he took tonight."

The Elders glared at her for a moment longer, then flash stepped away, carrying their injured. Yoruichi turned to Renji.

"There is no time left, Renji. We have to take him to Orihime's home now. Come!"

The two flash stepped away together. As they raced toward Orihime's home, Renji held Byakuya close and breathed words of encouragement into the noble's ear.

"Hang in there, Byakuya. It isn't very far and you already know what a good healer Orihime is! She can help you. You'll be fine. I know you will. Just work with me here. You just need to stay with me. I can't tell if you're still breathing or if your heart is still beating, but I feel you here with me. Stay with me, Byakuya."

XXXXXXXXXX

Orihime nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the pounding on her door and Renji's voice called out for her to let them in. She ran to the door quickly and opened it, gasping in dismay as her eyes took in the sight of the injured shinigami.

"Orihime," Yoruichi said quickly, "Byakuya has been gravely wounded. We need you to use your powers to heal him."

"Come this way," she said, turning toward the nearest bedroom.

Yoruichi followed her into the room and gently set Byakuya down on the bed. She sat down next to Renji at the taichou's side as Orihime summoned her power and golden light rose up over him.

"Can you save him?" Renji asked, trying to hide the tremor in his voice, "It doesn't look like he's even breathing."

"Don't worry, Renji," Yoruichi assured him, "Orihime's powers are very strong. Byakuya couldn't be in better hands right now."

"I know that," Renji said softly, "I just…I need to know he's going to be all right."

"He'll be fine, Renji," Yoruichi said, placing an arm around his shoulders, "She will be able to heal him."

Renji stared numbly at the pale bloodied body of his taichou and wondered how he could have taken such damage and even survived this long.

"I don't understand why he did this," he whispered, "We were all there together. Maybe if we had all stayed together…if he hadn't tried to take them on all by himself…maybe…"

Yoruichi took his hand and squeezed it gently.

"Don't do that, Renji," she said gently, "Little Byakuya always had a penchant for being a bit reckless, but never so much as when he was in love. You know that's why he led them away from us. He was worried that they would strike at you again."

"I know. Kuchiki taichou is very protective of the ones he loves. Ever since Aizen…ever since then, he's always watched out for Rukia."

"And tonight he was watching out for you," Yoruichi finished, "He loves you, Renji."

"Yeah," Renji said softly, "I just figured out how much…and it scares the hell out of me."

"Why?" asked Yoruichi, smiling, "Wouldn't you do the same for him?"

"Yeah," the redhead admitted, his voice trembling slightly, "Of course I would. I just didn't figure one of us would really have to go this far, you know? It's easy to claim that you love someone enough to die for them…It's scary when you're forced to prove it."

XXXXXXXXXX

"Byakuya?"

His words break through the darkness, but I cannot answer. I feel touches on my hands and face.

"Orihime said you're going to be okay. You just need rest now."

It hurts to breathe.

"You scared the hell out of me, you know. What were you thinking, taking them on by yourself like that?"

What happened?

"You told me not to leave your side, Byakuya. But then, you left mine. Why did you do that?"

I was standing in a park…waiting. The air was cold and it was dark. I was alone, but I felt them approaching.

"I wanted to be there with you. Why didn't you take me with you? I'm your fukutaichou. My most important duty is to watch your back. But it isn't about duty anymore, is it? Not now."

I know that voice.

"It's a whole lot more complicated now."

Red hair like flames, brown eyes, tanned skin marked with black lines. When he touches me, the warmth is everywhere.

"At first, things were simple. I hated you for taking Rukia away. I wanted to surpass you, to take something from you."

I chose him for his strength, for his potential. But then I ignored him. I didn't trouble myself to help him grow stronger or more powerful.

"I didn't care about watching your back. I was just watching you, looking for weaknesses that I could use against you."

He was left to fend for himself, but he was from the Rukongai. He was used to that. He grew stronger despite the neglect.

"When you took sides against Rukia, I never asked myself why. I didn't care why, because in my mind you were already my enemy."

I looked down on him and I underestimated him. And when he tried to protect my sister, I nearly killed him. No wonder he hated me. I deserved his hatred.

"Maybe you wouldn't have bothered to explain it to me even if I had asked, but I never gave you the chance to explain. I set my heart against you and I wanted to bring you down."

If I had respected the place he had at my side and taken the time to develop that power, that strength, then maybe…

"It's ironic. I got what I wanted. You went down…even though I wasn't the one who took you down. I watched, but it didn't give me the feeling I expected. Because you didn't do what I expected. Despite everything, when it really mattered, you did the right thing. You did what Ichigo and I couldn't. And you did it without any concern for yourself. You were willing to die protecting her. And that's when I realized that I couldn't hate you anymore."

It was only after I learned how badly I had been manipulated and used that I realized his significance, that I respected how much determination he had poured into growing stronger so he could defend her. He was my fukutaichou and I had a responsibility to see to his growth, but instead I cut him down with my neglect, then with my blade. And still, when the dust cleared, when I woke…he was there. He has been there ever since. Since then, I've never felt like I was alone. He's here now. It's strange, knowing I can depend on that.

"I stayed with you after that, because I felt that I'd failed you. I resolved not to fail you again. I stayed with you and I really wasn't expecting anything. I only thought of making things right and respecting my role as your fukutaichou. That's why I was so happy when you consented to letting me take care of you. It was unlike you to let anyone help you."

I don't know what brought him to my side like that. I only know that when I really looked at him, I realized who was looking back at me.

"You have to promise me that you won't try to take the Elders on alone again. You have to let me help you. You and I are strong enough to defeat them, but we should face them together."

I know who he is. I love who he is. When I left his side, it was only to protect him. I was too proud to respect the fact that I needed him there. If anyone is to blame for what happened, it is I. I didn't respect his place in my life. I should have taken him with me. We are strongest when we are together. And to give us the best chance of defeating the Elders, I need to let Renji stand with me. That way, we can better protect each other.

"Byakuya, if you and I are going to hold things together, we have to work together. We have to both be willing to give everything to protect each other. I know it's not the way you usually work, but we have to work together to survive. So don't even think of leaving me behind again."

Stay with me.

"I'm not going to let you leave me behind again, so don't even try."

Lie down with me.

"It's a cold night. I hope you don't mind if I join you."

Renji…I feel…warm again.

"Rest for now, Byakuya. Things will be difficult, but we'll find a way. Just, rest for now. We'll need all of our strength when we face them."

Renji, aishiteru yo.

"Byakuya, aishiteru yo."

XXXXXXXXXX

"Abarai Renji…why is everything…pink?"

Renji chuckled softly and lifted his head to meet the dark eyes looking back at him.

"We're at Inoue Orihime's home. We brought you here for healing."

"Ah…I thought it was a nightmare."

"No, this is just her spare room," Renji explained.

"I see. Then I shall ignore the fact that I am surrounded by pink and just be grateful to still be breathing."

"Look at the cute bunny slippers she left for you," Renji grinned.

"Abarai, if you get near me with those things, I will kill you."

"They match the bunnies on the robe."

"Do not even think about it!"

"Well, it's not like you have a lot of choice. Your shihakushou is pretty much shredded."

"I would rather die."

Renji laughed.

"I thought so…so I asked Rukia to go back to Urahara's place and bring back something for you to wear."

"You…sent Rukia? You do know about her affinity for…"

"Chappy the bunny? Yeah, but she won't forget who she's getting the clothes for…least I don't think she will."

Byakuya started to sit up, then fell back groaning.

"Yeah…you're going to hurt a bit for a few days. I would suggest you stay put…especially since you're not wearing any clothes and you have already refused to wear what Orihime left for you."

"Abarai," Byakuya said quietly, "I was wearing clothes when I arrived, was I not?"

"Yeah, but they were shredded and bloodstained, so I took them off."

"I see. And you did this…"

Renji shook with barely restrained laughter.

"Don't worry, I waited until she was done and we were alone."

"I appreciate that," Byakuya replied dryly.

Renji put his lips close to the noble's ear.

"You didn't ask what I did while you were sleeping, Taichou."

Byakuya narrowed his eyes.

"Is that why I'm so sore?"

"Hah!" Renji exclaimed, "You're sore because you tried to face down eight Kuchiki Elders with just your Ban Kai and your stupid pride, baka!"

The seething glare he received in reply sent Renji backpedaling quickly.

"You want me to make you some tea, Taichou?" he asked, changing the subject.

"No."

Renji blinked.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Byakuya said softly, "because that would mean that you would have to leave…and I am quite comfortable with the way things are."

"I have to get up anyway," he assured Byakuya.

"Why is that?"

"Uh…if I don't get up soon, Orihime will start making breakfast."

"And this is a problem?"

"Oh, that's right, you've never experienced Orihime's cooking. You want to give it a try? It's sure to be…interesting."

"Abarai, I've only just escaped death once. Do you really wish for me to risk it again so soon?"

Renji laughed softly.

"No…I'll take care of breakfast."

Renji started to pull away, but found himself pulled back down and surrounded by warm arms and the press of a warm body. Heated lips claimed his hungrily.

"Stay with me." Byakuya whispered between kisses.

"What about breakfast?"

"Breakfast can wait."